Soil retention barrier for manufactured housing

ABSTRACT

A soil retention barrier that is connected to structure, such as a house, and is configured to inhibit soil erosion of the ground beneath the structure. The soil retention barrier includes a body. The body is comprised of a plurality of panels that are configured in a substantially vertical manner. The panels are generally rectangular in shape and have two ends. One end configured to positioned proximate the ground, and the opposite end being configured to be attached to the structure with an attachment member.

PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119(e) & 37 C.F.R. §1.78

This nonprovisional applications claims priority based upon thefollowing prior U.S. provisional patent application entitled: Duroskirt, Application No. 60/678,484 filed May 06, 2005, in the name ofDanny R. Neal, which is hereby incorporated by reference for allpurposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vertical barrier, more specifically asoil retention barrier that is intermediate the lower portion of amanufactured house and the ground in order to inhibit soil erosion ofthe ground beneath the manufactured house.

BACKGROUND

Millions of individuals and families reside in manufactured housing.Manufactured housing popularity has grown rapidly in the last decade.Manufactured housing offers more models and styles and are reasonablypriced making them cost effective. Individuals utilize manufacturedhousing either as full time residences or part-time residences.Typically, for a part time residence an individual will utilize themanufactured house as a weekend residence at a camp as a second home.

Manufactured housing is usually placed on a trailer or some suitableframe that maintains the house structure in a position whereby it isseveral feet off the ground. One problem with this arrangement is thatan open area intermediate the manufactured house and the ground remainsexposed. This open area results in the ground beneath the manufacturedhouse being exposed to various weather conditions. These conditionsincrease the probability that the soil underneath the manufacture houseis susceptible to movement and deterioration as a result of itsexposure.

The movement and deterioration of the ground beneath the manufacturedhouse can result in stability issues for the manufactured house. Alsoany grade movement can have adverse effects on the manufactured housesuch as but not limited to leveling problems.

Accordingly, there is a need for a device that can be securedintermediate the ground and the lower portion of a manufactured housethat can protect the soil underneath the manufactured house from erosioncaused by weather that can result in soil movement or deterioration thushaving a negative effect on the manufactured house.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a soil retentionbarrier the substantially encircles the base of a manufactured housethat inhibits erosion of the soil beneath the manufactured house.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a soil retentionbarrier that substantially encircles the base of a manufactured housethat inhibits movement of the grade by utilizing a plurality ofvertically adjustable panels.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a soil retentionbarrier that substantially encircles the base of a manufactured housethat inhibits movement of the grade beneath the house so as to preventany leveling issues with the manufactured house.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the presentinvention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings areillustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of thepresent invention, limited only by the scope of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had byreference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 2 is a perspective partial view of an embodiment of the presentinvention engaged with a lower portion of a conventional manufacturedhouse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 2, and wherein thevarious elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale andwherein like elements are identified with like reference numerals, thereis illustrated the components of a preferred embodiment of an soilretention barrier 100 constructed according to the principles of thepresent invention.

The soil retention barrier 100 comprises a member 10 that is configuredin a substantially horizontal and planar manner and is generallyrectangular in shape. The member 10 is manufactured from suitabledurable and rigid materials such as but not limited to aluminum orcement board. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerousdifferent materials could be used in place of and/or in conjunction withthe materials suggested herein for the member 10. It is furthercontemplated within the scope of the present invention that thematerials for the member 10 be weatherproof. The member 10 is designedto engage with the lower portion 20 of a conventional manufactured house30. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention thatthe member 10 is substantially secured to all sides of the manufacturedhouse 30. The member 10 is secured to the manufactured house 30 bysuitable mechanical or chemical methods.

Integrally mounted to one edge 40 of the member 10 and generallyperpendicular thereto is a body 50. The body 50 is further comprised ofa plurality of panels 60. The panels 60 are manufactured from a similardurable material as the member 10. The panels 60 are configured in asubstantially vertical and planar manner and are generally rectangularin shape. Each end 65 of panels 60 is secured to the member 10. Thepanels 60 are secured to the member 10 with suitable mechanical orchemical methods. Opposite the end 65 the panel 60 engages the ground70. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the panel could engagewith any suitable horizontal support structure that the manufacturedhouse has been placed thereon.

The panels 60 are interconnected along a seam 80. Proximate theperipheral edges 90, the panels 60 are connected by suitable mechanicalor chemical methods. The lengths and vertical positioning of panels 60with respect to other can vary so as to ensure that each end 67 of thepanels 60 can engage the ground 70 subsequent to the soil retentionbarrier 100 being installed to a conventional manufactured house 30. Thepanels 60 are fastened to each other using conventional tongue andgroove fasteners. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numeroussuitable methods of securing the panels 60 to each other could beutilized.

The panels 60 are substantially disposed along the member 10 around themanufactured house 30. Each panel 60 is adjusted so that one end 67 ofthe panel 60 is proximate the ground 70 beneath the manufactured house30. The panels 60 function to inhibit movement and deterioration of thesoil immediately beneath the manufactured house 30. Manufactured houses30 are often secured to a trailer or other suitable frame that is usedas a horizontal support structure. These houses are typically moved to alocation subsequent to being completely built at another location. Onceinstalled in the desired location, the manufactured house 30 remainsseveral feet above the ground 70. The exposed ground 70 is subject tomovement or erosion from varying weather conditions. This can create anunstable situation for the manufactured house 30 resulting in possibledamage to the manufactured house 30 as a result of the loss of itshorizontal support structure. The panels 60 function to inhibit theaccumulation and the erosion of soil beneath the manufactured house 30in order to prevent damage to the manufactured house 30 as a result ofthe accumulation or erosion of the soil beneath the manufactured house30. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the soil retentionbarrier 100 could be utilized on numerous different structures inaddition to manufactured housing. More specifically but not by way oflimitation, the soil retention barrier 100 could be utilized on a housethat has a pier and beam foundation.

Referring now in particular to FIG. 2, a description of the operation ofthe soil retention barrier 100 is as follows. The member 10 is securedto the lower portion 20 of the manufactured house 30 using suitablemechanical or chemical methods. Subsequently, the panels 60 areinstalled in a generally vertical manner with one end 65 being securedproximate the edge 40 of the member. The end 67 opposite the end 65 isvertically oriented such that it is proximate the ground 70. The panels60 are secured to each other along the seam 80 using suitable mechanicalor chemical methods. The panels 60 are vertically adjusted as they areinstalled so that the end 67 of each panel 60 is proximate the ground70.

Once panels 60 are connected to the member 10 the soil retention barrier100 functions to prevent the erosion of the soil beneath themanufactured house 30. As the panels are manufactured from a durable andweatherproof material, only periodic cosmetic coating maintenance may beneeded.

In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown byway of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may bepracticed. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have beendescribed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitableembodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description mayomit certain information known to those skilled in the art. Thepreceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limitedto the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it isintended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, ascan be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A soil retention barrier secured to a raised structure, comprising: abody, said body being configured in a substantially planar manner, saidbody being generally rectangular in shape, said body having a first endand a second end, said first end of said body being proximate a raisedstructure, said second end of said body being proximate the groundbeneath said raised structure, said body for preventing the erosion ofthe ground beneath the raised structure.
 2. The soil retention barrieras recited in claim 1, and further including an attachment member, saidattachment member for connecting said body the raised structure.
 3. Thesoil retention barrier as recited in claim 2, wherein said body furthercomprises a plurality of panels, each of said plurality of panelsconnected to said attachment member.
 4. The soil retention barrier asrecited in claim 3, wherein said body is manufactured from at least oneof aluminum and cement board.
 5. The soil retention barrier as recitedin claim 4, wherein said attachment member is manufactured from at leastone of aluminum and cement board.
 6. The soil retention barrier asrecited in claim 5, wherein said panels of said body are verticallyadjustable.
 7. The soil retention barrier as recited in claim 6, whereinsaid panels of said body are connected to each other utilizing a tongueand groove.
 8. A soil retention barrier secured to a manufactured housethat is suspended above the ground on a frame, comprising: an attachmentmember, said attachment member being generally manner, said attachmentmember being configured to be secured to the manufactured house; and abody, said body being configured in a substantially vertical and planarmanner, said body further including a plurality of panels, each of saidplurality of panels having a first end and a second end, said body forinhibiting the erosion of the ground beneath the manufactured house. 9.The soil retention barrier as recited in claim 8, wherein said first endof each of said plurality panels is secured to said attachment member.10. The soil retention barrier as recited in claim 9, wherein saidsecond end of each of said plurality of panels is proximate the groundwhen said attachment member is secured to the manufactured house. 11.The soil retention barrier as recited in claim 10, wherein in each ofsaid plurality of panels are connected to each other utilizing a tongueand groove fasteners.
 12. The soil retention barrier as recited in claim11, wherein each of said plurality of panels is vertically adjustable.13. The soil retention barrier as recited in claim 12, wherein saidplurality of panels are manufactured from at least one of aluminum andcement board.
 14. The soil retention barrier as recited in claim 13,wherein said attachment member is manufactured from at least one ofaluminum and cement board.
 15. A soil retention barrier secured to amanufactured house that is suspended above the ground on a frame,comprising: a body, said body being configured in a vertical and planarmanner, said body being generally rectangular in shape, said bodyfurther including a plurality of panels with each of said plurality ofpanels having a first end and a second end, said first end of each ofsaid plurality of panels being proximate the lower portion of themanufactured house, said second end of each of said plurality of panelsbeing proximate the ground, said body for inhibiting the erosion of theground beneath the manufactured house; and an attachment member, saidattachment member being configured in a generally horizontal and planarmanner, said attachment member being rectangular in shape, saidattachment member being secured to the manufactured house, saidattachment member for connecting said body to the manufactured house.16. The soil retention barrier as recited in claim 15, wherein saidplurality of panels are connected to each other utilizing a tongue andgroove fasteners.
 17. The soil retention barrier as recited in claim 16,wherein said plurality of panels are vertically adjustable with respectto each other for allowing the positioning of said second end of each ofsaid plurality of panels proximate the ground.
 18. The soil retentionbarrier as recited in claim 17, wherein said attachment member ismanufactured from at least one of cement board and aluminum.
 19. Thesoil retention barrier as recited in claim 18, wherein said panels aremanufactured from at least one of aluminum and cement board.
 20. Thesoil retention barrier as recited in claim 19, wherein said attachmentmember is secured to the lower portion of the manufactured house.